Abstract: A displacement amount measuring apparatus for measuring the amount of the displacement of a movable member (3) with a displacement sensor (81) by extending and/or retracting a specimen (S) by an operating means (100) to displace the movable member (3) and a generated force measuring device for measuring, with a load cell, a force generated when the specimen (S) is extended/retracted. The displacement amount measuring device for measuring the extended amount and/or the retracted amount of the specimen (S) by extending and/or retracting the specimen (S) comprises the operating means (100) extending/retracting the specimen (S), the movable member (3) connected to the tip of the specimen (S), a friction reducing body (5) horizontally and movably supporting the movable member (3), and the displacement sensor (81) measuring the amount of the displacement of the movable member (3).

Abstract: A gelling agent for an oil, which contains at least one compound (A) and at least one compound (B), and a gel composition containing the gelling agent and an oil: wherein R1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 7 to 17 carbon atoms, R2 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 26 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 are each independently a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 26 carbon atoms, and R5 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 7 to 17 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Cleaning compositions comprising (A) N-long-chain acyl neutral amino acid or a salt thereof, (B) N-long-chain acyl neutral amino acid dipeptide or a salt thereof, and (C) N-long-chain acyl neutral amino acid tripeptide or a salt thereof provide abundant foam, are excellent in foam retaining properties, and furnish a cleaned and dried body or hair with both a smooth feeling and a moist feeling. Compositions which further comprise (D) a higher fatty acid having 8 to 22 carbon atoms or a salt thereof exhibit enhanced creamy properties in foam quality. N-long-chain acyl neutral amino acids or salts thereof may be conveniently prepared by mixing a neutral amino acid, a long-chain fatty acid, and at least one of an alkaline substance selected from sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and maintaining the mixture with heating, while removing the water produced during the reaction, with no catalyst being employed.

Abstract: An occupant protection device includes an airbag 10 that is inflated with gas from an inflator 20 at a side of an occupant B to protect the body of the occupant B from the shoulder Ba to the lumbar Bd, the airbag 10 having substantially the same vertical dimension as that of a seat back Aa. In this occupant protection device, uninflatable sections 12 and 13 are formed in a vertical center portion 10c of the airbag 10, that is, at a position corresponding to the chest Bb and the abdomen Bc of the occupant B. Accordingly, a region which is thinner than an upper portion 10a and a lower portion 10b of the airbag 10 in a vehicle width direction when the airbag 10 is inflated and that extends substantially parallel to the seat back Aa is formed substantially at the center of the airbag 10.

Abstract: Ultraviolet absorption materials comprising an amide-containing guanidine derivative of the following general formula (I): or a salt thereof are disclosed. The materials have high solubility, and can be blended as ultraviolet absorption materials with a variety of cosmetics and are adsorbed well by skin and/or hair.

Abstract: A gelling agent for an oil, which contains at least one compound (A) and at least one compound (B), and a gel composition containing the gelling agent and an oil: wherein R1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 7 to 17 carbon atoms, R2 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 26 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 are each independently a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 26 carbon atoms, and R5 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 7 to 17 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A crystal of an N-long-chain acylglycine salt represented by the formula (I): wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 7-21 carbon atoms; M represents an alkali metal or a basic amino acid, which produces diffraction peaks at positions of at least two diffraction angles (2?±0.3°) selected from among 24.1°, 25.5°, 28.1° and 40.5° in powder X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu—K? rays. The crystal of the N-long-chain acylglycine salt of the present invention is superior in the ease of handling, dissolution property and dispersibility in water.

Abstract: A desired N-acylamino acid and a salt thereof can be produced efficiently and conveniently, almost without leaving any odor in the object product, by reacting amino acid or a salt thereof with a fatty acid halide under basic conditions in the presence of a phosphorus compound.

Abstract: A resistance welding head carries out resistance welding while clamping spots are being welded by a pair of electrodes. The head is floated in a direction Y perpendicular to a direction X of juxtaposing the spots being welded. The pair of electrodes clamp the spots being welded while centering by acting a reaction force exerted when the electrodes clamp the spots to the resistance welding head. Then, resistance welding starts.

Abstract: A method for preparing a highly purified N-long chain acyl neutral amino acid for use of a detergent and the like in a simple and convenient manner and in a high yield by reacting a neutral amino acid such as glycine, &ggr;-aminobutyric acid, and alanine, with a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid halide having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction is performed in a mixture of water and one or more kinds of hydrophilic organic solvents selected from the group consisting of acetone, acetonitrile, a secondary alcohol having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, and a tertiary alcohol having 4 carbon atoms such as isopropanol, sec-butanol, and tert-butanol in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A method for preparing a highly purified N-long chain acyl neutral amino acid for use of a detergent and the like in a simple and convenient manner and in a high yield by reacting a neutral amino acid such as glycine, &ggr;-aminobutyric acid, and alanine, with a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid halide having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction is performed in a mixture of water and one or more kinds of hydrophilic organic solvents selected from the group consisting of acetone, acetonitrile, a secondary alcohol having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, and a tertiary alcohol having 4 carbon atoms such as isopropanol, sec-butanol, and tert-butanol in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A resistance welding head carries out resistance welding while clamping spots being welded by a pair of electrodes. The head is floated in a direction Y perpendicular to a direction X of juxtaposing the spots being welded. The pair of electrodes clamp the spots being welded while centering by acting a reaction force exerted when the electrodes clamp the spots to the resistance welding head. Then, resistance welding starts.

Abstract: To maintain rigidity of a seat cushion frame at a seating position, an operating member (14) is axially supported pivotably by a lower arm (3) and a position of a wheel capable of pressing a floor is changed in accordance with a pivoting angle of the operating member (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides a fishing artificial bait and a fishing terminal tackle such that the silhouette of the artificial bait body is not visually obtrusive to the fish and the artificial bait body comes up on the surface of the water when the line is cut off due to a snag. The artificial bait of the present invention includes an artificial bait body and a through hole pierced through the artificial bait body so as to extend in the longitudinal direction or the transverse direction thereof. The artificial bait is a plug, and the artificial bait body is made of a material whose specific gravity is smaller (or greater in some cases) than that of water. The artificial bait body has a spindle shape, e.g., a fish shape, and is colored so as to resemble the pattern of a fish body. A hole for receiving and stopping a shank of the hook is provided in a rear portion of the through hole of the artificial bait body.

Abstract: Provided is an industrially advantageous process for producing an N-long chain acyl acidic amino acid by condensing an acidic amino acid with a long chain fatty acid halide in water in the presence of an alkali, wherein the reaction is performed in the presence of a polyhydric alcohol. The desired product is obtained in a high yield without the problems of odor and of safety owing to organic solvents and catalyst remaining in the desired product. The equipment for removal of the solvents is reduced, and production is simplified.

Abstract: N-long-chain acyl acidic amino acids or salts thereof are prepared by condensing an acidic amino acid or a salt thereof and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 long-chain fatty acid chloride in an aqueous solvent with stirring at a stirring power of not less than 0.2 kW/m.sup.3 while keeping the pH in the range of 10-13.

Abstract: A cleansing composition containing a N-long-chain-acylated dipeptide and an N-long-chain-acylated acidic amino acid. The cleansing composition exhibits low skin irritation, excellent resistance to hard water, is free from turbidity and the unpleasant odor associated with some natural peptides. The composition also provides excellent skin and hair feel qualities during and after use.

Abstract: A hair care product which exhibits an excellent setting power, an excellent use feeling, and improved solubility comprising the following ingredients (A), (B) and (C),(A) a polyacidic amino acid or its salt,(B) cationic cellulose, and(C) an ampholytic surfactant.

Abstract: Dielectric circuit components such as a dielectric strip, dielectric blocks and dielectric ring inserted between conductive plates are molded from a thermoplastic material. As the thermoplastic material, thermoplastic resin is used which has a dielectric constant not greater than 2.4. The dielectric circuit components may be injection-molded from an injection-moldable high polymer material which contains fluorine and has a melting point not greater than 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A molecular composite material includes a liquid crystal polymer such as polyazomethine, a thermoplastic polymer such as a polyamide and a compatibilizing agent such as .epsilon.-caprolactam having at least one functional group showing compatibility and/or reactivity to the liquid crystal polymer and/or the thermoplastic polymer.